The Shogunate of Akaiba
Ruling Family:
The Sadatake Family
Shogunate Location:
Seikatsu
Family motto: Katana de ikiru ka,-gatana de shinu ka!
Live by the Sword, or Die by the Sword!
Relations with other Kingdoms:
Akaiba is, incredibly, at peace with her cultural sisters, the Kingdoms of Toiba and Noiba. The same cannot be said for her northern neighbour, Okin. Shortly after the sundering of the Empire into three Shogunates, the Okin had sought to size control of several gold and silver mines in the north of Akaiba. The Akaiba had responded in force and so began a war that has lasted nearly a hundred years and resulted in the virtual subjugation of Okin by Akaiba. Only the northern regions of Okin remain unconquered and it is no secret that Akaiba is coming to finish what Okin started.
Family reputation:
Ambitious, Cunning, Wealthy, Scheming, Loyal, Organized, Honourable
Kingdom's main export goods:
Metals; (Gold, silver, copper, steel), Stonecraft, Woodcraft (Furniture), Silk, Foodstuffs (Rice, Fish, Whale Oil).
Description of Kingdom:
Akaiba is the Southwestern most Kingdom state on the continent of Seikatsu. The climate is mostly temperate with four distinct seasons, except for the southern most provinces which have a humid subtropical climate characterized by warm and wet summers and mild winters. Much of the Kingdom is covered in forests, tall hills, and lush valleys. Further north, to the East, mountains tower into the stunning blue sky. The main source of food for the Kingdom comes from small rice paddies found across the the land.
The Capital city, Shinkyo, is built on the Western most point of the continent and boasts the largest single human urban population in the known world of almost a quarter million souls. Sprawling across the mouth of three different rivers, the city is well served for water and sewage is dumped out to sea to prevent disease. Public baths are common, though broken down by castes, to ensure cleanliness. Felons, imprisoned for minor crimes, are set to cleaning rubbish and garbage away every day. Most buildings are made of paper and wood, allowing them to be easily rebuilt if damaged by an earthquake. This does create a fire hazard however and on occasion hundreds, if not thousands, are consumed by accidental blazes.
Rising above the city on a flat-topped mountain is Sadatake Castle, a fortress so huge it is said a garrison of 10,000 soldiers can reside within its walls. The fortress boasts its own lake, gardens, small forest and a game park. The Royal Family resides here, aloof from the chaos and confusion of the city below. Accessed by two ramps chiseled from the very stone itself, one to the north and the other on the south, it is an imposing citadel that has never been taken by an enemy.
There is no official religion in these lands and people tend to rely on their personal spirituality rather than an established faith. The people of Akaiba are hard traditionalists and honour is the most important part of their lives. They are incredibly polite, even to their enemies and will rarely express their emotions. It is sometimes said that they have two faces, one for the Akaiba and one for the Gaijin (foreigner/outsider).
Unlike Formaroth, gender roles are far more dominant within society and in most places the society is still very much patriarchal. Though men and women are not prohibited from taking up roles not stereotypical to their gender, it is considered an oddity. The Province of Taiyō however is a exception to this rule and men and women share equal levels of power and are not pressured towards a particular role. This is due to back in the warring periods, this province lost almost all of their men to war and the women took up and successfully defended themselves, earning their right to be considered equal to men. Taiyō has produced an elite cast of Warrior Monks and Nuns famed throughout the continent.
Social roles also play a large part in society and people are expected to take up the profession of their parents. To take up a different profession to your parents is considered to be a great dishonour to your family, though exceptions are can be made, especially during times of war.
Though the Akaiba are not hostile or even unfriendly to foreigners they tend to treat them with mild neglect, viewing them as Gaijin who do not understand the culture and who should not be trusted. This prejudice stems from most foreigners not understanding the strict social rules (etiquette) in Akaiba society and therefore they appear to come across as rude and blunt.
Magic and the Akaiba:
The Akaiba are a magically gifted people, but not in the same sense as the Mages of Formaroth. Magic on Seikatsu is wielded through Runes rather than gestures or motions. Runelords are tattooed with a rune that grants them a specific power, such as a spell foe invisibility, or fireball. Many Runes are defensive as well, common ones are used to strengthen a Runelords resistance to fire or cold.
Two schools exist where can be Runelord is trained, one in the capital, and another in the Northeastern mountains.
The Runesmith is a far more rare and difficult trade. These masters are trained not only with the knowledge of runes, and blacksmithing, but how to imbue said runes into a weapon through the application of mandrake oil.
Family Background:
Up until a hundred years ago Emperor Hirotomi held sway over the Three Sisters (The Kingdoms of Akaiba, Toiba, and Noiba) and ruled with an iron fist until his death at the hands of unknown assassins. The old fox did not die without a succession plan however, dividing his Empire between his three sons and issuing a final plea that they seek to live in peace. Incredibly, the brothers managed to do just that. It helped that other nations on their borders mistook the official breakup of the Empire as a sign of weakness and tried to grab what they could.
Shogun Sadatake Hirotomi Sadatake, the deceased Emperors eldest son, had been granted the lands of Akaiba and when Okin troops spilled over the border he responded with force. It took him twelve years of hard fighting to drive the Okinese back across the border, and even more time to secure defences along the river which traditionally marked the division of their lands. During this time he married and sired three children, twin sons and a daughter.
Sadatake Hirotomi would eventually die on the field of battle while leading his armies north into Okin. His sons, Kaito and Ruuku, then fought for the honour of becoming the new Shogun of Akaiba, and the right to rule Sadatake Family. Ruuku triumphed and hacked his brothers head from his shoulders before taking up his fathers mantle as Shogun. He at once sought to continue his fathers campaign against the Kingdom of Okin and the neighbouring states locked horns in what would become nearly a sixty year conflict.
Twenty years ago Ruuku joined his father in the halls of history when he was felled in an Okin ambush and his body torn to pieces by the victors. He was succeeded by his son, and current Shogun, Sadatake Ayeka. In fine family tradition Ayeka swore to continue the war against Okin. Unlike his predecessors however, he waged war with infinite patience. No longer did he permit his soldiers to slaughter villages, nor rape women, ordering that all religious shrines be left unmolested. He took the time to advance, conquer a region, ensure it was pacified, before moving on to the next.
These tactics bore fruit and the Okinese suddenly found themselves being forced back on all fronts, frustrated at every turn by cunning Akaiba diplomats and spies who worked tirelessly to feed information back to the Shogun. The time has finally come for Akaiba to strike a death blow against Okin and finish what they so foolishly started a hundred years before.
Family motives:
Ayeka intends to crown himself Shogun of Akaiba and Okin, a single nationstate spanning the Western reaches of Seikatsu. There is not a person on the continent who cannot not clearly see that happening already. But deeper than that, hidden behind his polite smile and generosity, is a desire to conquer the whole of Seikatsu, to become Emperor. Noiba sits on the precipice of oblivion with no heir to follow a barren King and Toiba struggles beneath the rule of a drunken womanizer. It begins in Okin and, given enough time, his strength will spread across the continent.
Name:
Sadatake Ayeka
Age:
59
Gender:
Male
Position:
Shogun of Akaiba
Personality:
Ayeka is cunning man who wears the mask of friendship and diplomacy as comfortably as a geisha wears a silken kimono. He trusts literally only one man with his life, General Kakuei Tanaka, who is entrusted with the safety of Ayeka and his possessions. He excels at promising everything and yet delivering nothing when negotiating with the Gaijin, considering them little more than a nuisance he must tolerate to ensure trade.
His campaign in Okin, far less bloody than his fathers, has quickly marked him out as a man of immense patience and tactical forethought; something he plays up whenever he is given the opportunity. He makes no secret that intends to make himself Shogun of the West, it would be impossible to hide such ambition anyway.
Behind the open book of a man he pretends to be lurks the real Ayeka. A man who intends to conquer the whole continent using whatever means necessary. Already his agents have rendered his cousin in Toiba infertile, knowing that they will look to a strong leader when the old man dies. He feeds exotic slaves and gifts to his cousin in Noiba, sending all sorts of distractions East to weaken his cousin in the eyes of his own court. Yet more agents move among the Samurai, whispering rumours of Ayeka's strength and suitability as a ruler in his lands. Would he not make a great ruler for all Samurai. For those who would disagree, there are always the Ninja, ever ready to kill for a price.
His own son and daughter are treated as tools to wield as he sees fit and each one, in keeping with the strong sense of honour famous among the Iba, follow his directions and seek to earn his approval. As for his wife, she exists to produce him children and otherwise lives in more or less splendid isolation.
Weaknesses:
Aging/Injured: Ayeka is an old man and, while he can still ride a horse, his days of single combat are over. Battle wounds from his youth remain on public display, a limp in his left leg and a missing right eye. He would hardly be a challenge for a well armed teenager.
Utterly Ruthless: Both a strength, and a weakness, Ayeka is willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to achieve his goals, even his family. This does not make him immune to grief however and behind his mask lies a deeply passionate man who feels the pain of many decisions he has made.
Distrustful: Ayeka trusts only one man completely, and that man is not his son.
Poor Combat Leader: There is a distinct difference between the ability to lead soldiers into battle and the ability to plan campaigns. Ayeka, even in his youth, was hardly a passable regimental commander. Lucky for him, his birthright placed him in a position where his ability to look at the bigger picture was vital.
Appearance:
Tall, cropped black hair, strong but with a noticeable belly, darker skin, short well trimmed beard, limp on his left leg, and a missing right eye that has been replaced with purple glass.
Skills:
Master strategist, Master Ruler, Master manipulator, Expert politician, Adept economist, Adept Runelord, Useless swordsman.
Background:
Ayeka was the only son of Shogun Sadatake Ruuku. As a youth he was trained from childhood to become the next ruler of Akaiba. He was an excellent individual swordsman and archer, excelling at other such things as poetry, writing, swimming and horseback riding. His career as a soldier ended the same day his father died when the ambushers drove an arrow into his left leg as he was forced into a shameful retreat by the surviving bodyguard. It took them to long to reach a healer and by the time the wound was treated he was barely able to walk, let alone run or fight.
As the heir, and now Shogun, he had a lot of other events to keep his mind off of things as he took control of his fathers Kingdom. His first act was to order the halt of the current advance into Okin. For several years he had listened at his fathers councils and noted that no matter how brutal the repercussions, the populace still remained loyal to Okin and supported any soldiers who need their help.
He made sweeping changes to the way the Akaiba armies conducted their campaigns. It did not make him popular with the common foot soldier but the smartest among them began to notice fewer attacks out of the darkness, fewer poisoned wells, and fewer men found strangled on the picket line. True, they were still at war, but agents sent north by Ayeka had been quietly pointing out that the armies of Okin were doomed. They pushed local populations to welcome the Akaiba troops with open arms and ensure their own survival.
Though his attention has been to the North, Ayeka has never forgotten his dream of uniting all the Iba peoples under one banner. Still more agents work behind the scenes in the courts of his cousins, spinning webs and laying the foundation for their eventual inclusion into his Empire.
Name:
Sadatake Daichi
Age:
25
Gender:
Male
Position:
Crown Prince, Son of Shogun Sadatake Ayeka; Samurai
Personality:
Daichi is cunning and cruel on a level that very few people can imagine. The cruelty that he suffered at the hands of Imperium slavers following his capture at eighteen left him scared and vengeful. The once handsome and confident young Prince has become a twisted and evil person, driven only be the desire for revenge and to make his enemies suffer as he suffered. Many of those in Akaiba fear him and his men, the Kempeitai, the secretive intelligence branch of the Shoguns government. Even among the stoic people of Akaiba, Daichi is considered a serious person. He rarely smiles, never laughs, and is known to enjoy inflicting pain on others.
Daichi loves one person, his sister. To what extent this love goes is anyones guess, but he dotes on her and she has forever accepted him. He respects and fears his father for a number of reasons but the two men are dangerous indeed when they put their heads together.
Weaknesses:
Daichi is a cripple in the purest sense of the word. Both his knees were broken by the Elves, all of his teeth pulled out or broken, and his feet badly damaged. He cannot sit or stand without being in pain, he often fouls his own bed because he cannot get out of it in time, and he incapable of wielding any weapons at all.
Appearance:
Daichi was once a tall and proud young man but the injuries he suffered at the hands of the Imperium have left him bent and twisted. His shaves his head completely, scorning the Samurai style top-knot he has every right to wear as his birtiright. His teeth are either gone or broken, painful to the touch. His right leg is bent and gnarled, forcing him to use a cane. Both his feet are badly mangled and angle inward causing him to walk duck footed. His once broad shoulders have shrunk to little more than the that of a youth. His fingers, all broken before healing into a gnarled mess, had to be rebroken when he was rescued, healing again into some approximation of claws.
It is his eyes that still give life to an otherwise piteous being. They are a pure and hate filled black. Like two pools of evil that try to draw you in and drown you.
Skills:
Spymaster - Spies, assassins, mercenaries, all of it falls into Daichi's purview and he wields those resources with terrifying skill, both within Seikatsu and abroad.
Master Rune Lord (Madoushi) - Daichi has had plenty of time on his hands following his release and funnelled much of his energy into developing the magical traits common in his family line. His skill in Necromancy is unrivalled and he has turned his hand at manipulating the oceans as well.
Useless fighter - Daichi couldn't fend off a child.
Background:
Daichi and his twin sister were born in the spring at the height of the cherry blossom blooming period to Sadatake Ayeka, the Shogun of Akaiba. A fitting birth date for the children of a nation who's culture embodies beauty and mortality. Their early years were spent with their mother until they were old enough to hold a bokken, a wooden sword, and it was then that their lives took a different turn. Daichi was captured by an Imperium slaver when his ship was attacked shortly after his eighteenth birthday.
The dashing young Crown Prince would spend two years in captivity as his captors tortured him for their amusement, and for information on Seikatsu, and more importantly Akaiba.
Daichi was rescued in a daring raid led by Taketora, the same General who now leads the Northern Army of Akaiba. The General, horrified by the young mans disfigurement and pain, offered to kill Daichi there and then. Daichi refused and, to this day, often regrets his choice. However, he seeks revenge in the most savage way and intends to ensure the death of as many Elves as he can manage before he finally goes to his ancestors. Was he anyone else's son, he would have been left to die but the Shogun, himself recently injured by an arrow, ensured his son was cared for and given whatever he needed to thrive.
Emotionally and physically shattered, Daichi turned to magic for solace and quickly showed great skill in Necromancy. His studies into this darkest of arts led him to others who moved beyond the bright light cast by civilization. He met rogues, assassins, thieves, ronin, and spies. He cultivated those contacts with great care, building an impressive network of agents throughout Seikatsu. He was surprised, and gratified, when he approached his father with what he had done. The use of such agents had always occurred in Seikatsu and only failure, or capture, could bring dishonour on the employed of such assets.
With his fathers blessing he formed the Kempeitai, a branch of the government that exists on paper to "Educate" and "Inform". In reality, Daichi began to wield the underworld forces he had discovered as a weapon on his fathers behalf.
Sadatake Daichi
Age:
25
Gender:
Male
Position:
Crown Prince, Son of Shogun Sadatake Ayeka; Samurai
Personality:
Daichi is cunning and cruel on a level that very few people can imagine. The cruelty that he suffered at the hands of Imperium slavers following his capture at eighteen left him scared and vengeful. The once handsome and confident young Prince has become a twisted and evil person, driven only be the desire for revenge and to make his enemies suffer as he suffered. Many of those in Akaiba fear him and his men, the Kempeitai, the secretive intelligence branch of the Shoguns government. Even among the stoic people of Akaiba, Daichi is considered a serious person. He rarely smiles, never laughs, and is known to enjoy inflicting pain on others.
Daichi loves one person, his sister. To what extent this love goes is anyones guess, but he dotes on her and she has forever accepted him. He respects and fears his father for a number of reasons but the two men are dangerous indeed when they put their heads together.
Weaknesses:
Daichi is a cripple in the purest sense of the word. Both his knees were broken by the Elves, all of his teeth pulled out or broken, and his feet badly damaged. He cannot sit or stand without being in pain, he often fouls his own bed because he cannot get out of it in time, and he incapable of wielding any weapons at all.
Appearance:
Daichi was once a tall and proud young man but the injuries he suffered at the hands of the Imperium have left him bent and twisted. His shaves his head completely, scorning the Samurai style top-knot he has every right to wear as his birtiright. His teeth are either gone or broken, painful to the touch. His right leg is bent and gnarled, forcing him to use a cane. Both his feet are badly mangled and angle inward causing him to walk duck footed. His once broad shoulders have shrunk to little more than the that of a youth. His fingers, all broken before healing into a gnarled mess, had to be rebroken when he was rescued, healing again into some approximation of claws.
It is his eyes that still give life to an otherwise piteous being. They are a pure and hate filled black. Like two pools of evil that try to draw you in and drown you.
Skills:
Spymaster - Spies, assassins, mercenaries, all of it falls into Daichi's purview and he wields those resources with terrifying skill, both within Seikatsu and abroad.
Master Rune Lord (Madoushi) - Daichi has had plenty of time on his hands following his release and funnelled much of his energy into developing the magical traits common in his family line. His skill in Necromancy is unrivalled and he has turned his hand at manipulating the oceans as well.
Useless fighter - Daichi couldn't fend off a child.
Background:
Daichi and his twin sister were born in the spring at the height of the cherry blossom blooming period to Sadatake Ayeka, the Shogun of Akaiba. A fitting birth date for the children of a nation who's culture embodies beauty and mortality. Their early years were spent with their mother until they were old enough to hold a bokken, a wooden sword, and it was then that their lives took a different turn. Daichi was captured by an Imperium slaver when his ship was attacked shortly after his eighteenth birthday.
The dashing young Crown Prince would spend two years in captivity as his captors tortured him for their amusement, and for information on Seikatsu, and more importantly Akaiba.
Daichi was rescued in a daring raid led by Taketora, the same General who now leads the Northern Army of Akaiba. The General, horrified by the young mans disfigurement and pain, offered to kill Daichi there and then. Daichi refused and, to this day, often regrets his choice. However, he seeks revenge in the most savage way and intends to ensure the death of as many Elves as he can manage before he finally goes to his ancestors. Was he anyone else's son, he would have been left to die but the Shogun, himself recently injured by an arrow, ensured his son was cared for and given whatever he needed to thrive.
Emotionally and physically shattered, Daichi turned to magic for solace and quickly showed great skill in Necromancy. His studies into this darkest of arts led him to others who moved beyond the bright light cast by civilization. He met rogues, assassins, thieves, ronin, and spies. He cultivated those contacts with great care, building an impressive network of agents throughout Seikatsu. He was surprised, and gratified, when he approached his father with what he had done. The use of such agents had always occurred in Seikatsu and only failure, or capture, could bring dishonour on the employed of such assets.
With his fathers blessing he formed the Kempeitai, a branch of the government that exists on paper to "Educate" and "Inform". In reality, Daichi began to wield the underworld forces he had discovered as a weapon on his fathers behalf.
Name: Sadatake Kanna
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Position: Noble, Daughter of the Shogun Sadatake Ayeka, Samurai
Personality:
Kanna is a confident young woman and takes after her father in some ways. She is cunning on both the battle field and when dealing with others, often catching her opponents off-guard due to their misogynist views of the capabilities of a woman in a position of power. She has the capacity to be ruthless and will be so when it comes to her twin brother and upholding her father's wishes. Kanna desperately seeks her father's approval to avoid the fate that her mother finds herself trapped in.
However, underneath it all is a compassionate woman who cares for her people and will try to find a fair middle ground when possible, but only if it doesn't interfere with her father's orders. If one is fair with her, she will respond in kind. Offer anything less, and she will respond with malice. She is not generally swayed by emotions and handles most situations with a calm perspective. After a long demanding days, she enjoys taking a nice hot bath followed by some quiet time with a canvas and some brushes.
Weaknesses: Kanna is closest with her twin brother and will do anything for him to a fault. Her biggest fear is to lose her other half on the battlefield and not being able to do anything to stop it. Her next fear is sharing the same fate as her mother, married to a lord who will keep her locked away from the world and all it's wonders. After those two things, there isn't much else she has come to dread on this earth. While Kanna is mostly a calm woman, once she is set off she can have the most terrible temper and act without regard for her own safety or to her limits.
Appearance:
Kanna stands taller than most women of Seikatsu with a height of 5'6" (167.3cm) with skin so pale that she doesn't bother with whitening it with makeup like most other women and thick hair as black as raven's feathers that reaches her lower back. She has a slender, but muscular build, as she trains daily in various combat styles. She has a decently sized chest, about the size of grapefruits, but she keeps her breasts tightly bound so that they don't interfere with her swordplay or serve as a distraction for men.
As cultural standard demands, Kanna is often stoic, showing little emotion other than what is acceptable when in public. In more private settings or when provoked, she'll show more raw feelings. When in the field, she'll wear men's clothing over women's, taking comfort and ease of movement over beauty and societal standards. Because of this, she will also have her hair up in a high ponytail, so that is stays out of her face, rather than spend time on some elaborate up-do. She wears a katana and a wakizashi strapped to her hip for most occasions, showing her status to others as a samurai. The only time she is without either of those blades are when she has to be in a formal setting dressed in a kimono, but she will always have a tanto, a knife about 6" (15cm) long, on her person for protection.
Skills: Kanna is a talented artist, capable of recreating any scene or object from memory with great detail. As a daughter of a Shogun, she is trained in the proper etiquette and customs of her people. In terms of combat, she has the following skills:
Average Swordswoman - Kanna had to modify her sword style to accommodate for the fact that most of her opponents would be able to easily strike her down if she relied on strength alone. Thus, she focuses her training on speed and her ability to parry strikes.
Poor Archer - while she can string a bow and nock an arrow, she has poor aim and will often miss the target.
Average Martial artist - Kanna is a capable martial artist who focuses more on using her opponent's movements against them, rather than trying to use the strength of her blows to win a match.
Adept Strategist while on the field - Kanna is able to analyze the battle in front of her and make decisions accordingly. She shows promise and will flourish under guidance.
Master Rune Lord (Madoushi) specializing in restoration and blood magic - Kanna is a highly skilled rune lord with in depth knowledge of the human anatomy and physiology. This knowledge is also what allows her to be a formidable blood mage as she can cause any wound to become more severe. She often pairs blood magic with her swordsmanship to secure victory in a fight.
Adept equestrian - Kanna has a love for horses.
Background:
Kanna and her twin brother were born in the spring at the height of the cherry blossom blooming period to Sadatake Ayeka, the Shogun of Akaiba. A fitting birth date for the children of a nation who's culture embodies beauty and mortality. Their early years were spent with their mother until they were old enough to hold a bokken, a wooden sword, and it was then that their lives took a different turn. Kanna showed promise as a Madoushi and was trained in the restorative arts until she became a master at the age of 20. During her training and research into her mastery, Kanna also developed skills as a blood mage, becoming useful to her father not only as a healer, but as a weapon of death as well.
Among the less traditional schooling that is not often provided to women, Kanna was taught the way of the sword as well as hand to hand combat, which gave her the status of samurai on top of being the shogun's only daughter. Both skills were modified so that she could fight on equal terms of most men. More traditionally of women of her status, she was taught to read, write, how to behave as a noblewoman, and what is expected of her in society. Her younger days were busy and packed to the brim with studying, but she always found the time to paint and draw as it was her only outlet from the stressors of status.
Determined to be more than just something to marry off for political gain, Kanna has spent her entire life trying to live up to and exceed her father's expectations. The past five years were the most impactful for her as she has shown that she wasn't a burden to the other samurai and was more than capable of holding her own on the field. She has been under the wings of an elite samurai unit, the Okuri-Okami, who answer directly to the shogun. The Okuri are distinguishable from the other samurai by their masks. It's a half mask that covers the lower portion of their faces, from the nose to the chin, with the design of a wolf's snarling muzzle. The Madoushi of the unit wear more full faced wolf masks with only their mouths unobstructed so that they can channel spells more freely. Kanna wears her own mask that depicts a white faced fox with red markings and blackened extremities.
Age: 25
Gender: Female
Sexual Orientation: Heterosexual
Position: Noble, Daughter of the Shogun Sadatake Ayeka, Samurai
Personality:
Kanna is a confident young woman and takes after her father in some ways. She is cunning on both the battle field and when dealing with others, often catching her opponents off-guard due to their misogynist views of the capabilities of a woman in a position of power. She has the capacity to be ruthless and will be so when it comes to her twin brother and upholding her father's wishes. Kanna desperately seeks her father's approval to avoid the fate that her mother finds herself trapped in.
However, underneath it all is a compassionate woman who cares for her people and will try to find a fair middle ground when possible, but only if it doesn't interfere with her father's orders. If one is fair with her, she will respond in kind. Offer anything less, and she will respond with malice. She is not generally swayed by emotions and handles most situations with a calm perspective. After a long demanding days, she enjoys taking a nice hot bath followed by some quiet time with a canvas and some brushes.
Weaknesses: Kanna is closest with her twin brother and will do anything for him to a fault. Her biggest fear is to lose her other half on the battlefield and not being able to do anything to stop it. Her next fear is sharing the same fate as her mother, married to a lord who will keep her locked away from the world and all it's wonders. After those two things, there isn't much else she has come to dread on this earth. While Kanna is mostly a calm woman, once she is set off she can have the most terrible temper and act without regard for her own safety or to her limits.
Appearance:
Kanna stands taller than most women of Seikatsu with a height of 5'6" (167.3cm) with skin so pale that she doesn't bother with whitening it with makeup like most other women and thick hair as black as raven's feathers that reaches her lower back. She has a slender, but muscular build, as she trains daily in various combat styles. She has a decently sized chest, about the size of grapefruits, but she keeps her breasts tightly bound so that they don't interfere with her swordplay or serve as a distraction for men.
As cultural standard demands, Kanna is often stoic, showing little emotion other than what is acceptable when in public. In more private settings or when provoked, she'll show more raw feelings. When in the field, she'll wear men's clothing over women's, taking comfort and ease of movement over beauty and societal standards. Because of this, she will also have her hair up in a high ponytail, so that is stays out of her face, rather than spend time on some elaborate up-do. She wears a katana and a wakizashi strapped to her hip for most occasions, showing her status to others as a samurai. The only time she is without either of those blades are when she has to be in a formal setting dressed in a kimono, but she will always have a tanto, a knife about 6" (15cm) long, on her person for protection.
Skills: Kanna is a talented artist, capable of recreating any scene or object from memory with great detail. As a daughter of a Shogun, she is trained in the proper etiquette and customs of her people. In terms of combat, she has the following skills:
Average Swordswoman - Kanna had to modify her sword style to accommodate for the fact that most of her opponents would be able to easily strike her down if she relied on strength alone. Thus, she focuses her training on speed and her ability to parry strikes.
Poor Archer - while she can string a bow and nock an arrow, she has poor aim and will often miss the target.
Average Martial artist - Kanna is a capable martial artist who focuses more on using her opponent's movements against them, rather than trying to use the strength of her blows to win a match.
Adept Strategist while on the field - Kanna is able to analyze the battle in front of her and make decisions accordingly. She shows promise and will flourish under guidance.
Master Rune Lord (Madoushi) specializing in restoration and blood magic - Kanna is a highly skilled rune lord with in depth knowledge of the human anatomy and physiology. This knowledge is also what allows her to be a formidable blood mage as she can cause any wound to become more severe. She often pairs blood magic with her swordsmanship to secure victory in a fight.
Adept equestrian - Kanna has a love for horses.
Background:
Kanna and her twin brother were born in the spring at the height of the cherry blossom blooming period to Sadatake Ayeka, the Shogun of Akaiba. A fitting birth date for the children of a nation who's culture embodies beauty and mortality. Their early years were spent with their mother until they were old enough to hold a bokken, a wooden sword, and it was then that their lives took a different turn. Kanna showed promise as a Madoushi and was trained in the restorative arts until she became a master at the age of 20. During her training and research into her mastery, Kanna also developed skills as a blood mage, becoming useful to her father not only as a healer, but as a weapon of death as well.
Among the less traditional schooling that is not often provided to women, Kanna was taught the way of the sword as well as hand to hand combat, which gave her the status of samurai on top of being the shogun's only daughter. Both skills were modified so that she could fight on equal terms of most men. More traditionally of women of her status, she was taught to read, write, how to behave as a noblewoman, and what is expected of her in society. Her younger days were busy and packed to the brim with studying, but she always found the time to paint and draw as it was her only outlet from the stressors of status.
Determined to be more than just something to marry off for political gain, Kanna has spent her entire life trying to live up to and exceed her father's expectations. The past five years were the most impactful for her as she has shown that she wasn't a burden to the other samurai and was more than capable of holding her own on the field. She has been under the wings of an elite samurai unit, the Okuri-Okami, who answer directly to the shogun. The Okuri are distinguishable from the other samurai by their masks. It's a half mask that covers the lower portion of their faces, from the nose to the chin, with the design of a wolf's snarling muzzle. The Madoushi of the unit wear more full faced wolf masks with only their mouths unobstructed so that they can channel spells more freely. Kanna wears her own mask that depicts a white faced fox with red markings and blackened extremities.
Military
Samurai (30,000)
Militia Levy (60,000)
Hatamoto = General
Samurai = Knight
Ashigaru = Spearman
Runelord = Mage
Civilian
2.8 Million (Between Akaiba/Okin)
Samurai (30,000)
Militia Levy (60,000)
Hatamoto = General
Samurai = Knight
Ashigaru = Spearman
Runelord = Mage
Civilian
2.8 Million (Between Akaiba/Okin)
1. Okin pushed to the brink
2. The Shogun consults his council
3. The Building Blocks of Empire
4. Okin Submits and Noiba returns to the fold
5. Daichi Intro
6. Daichi Questions an Elf
7. Kanna Leaves for Formaroth and Daichi arrives at Tanaka Castle
8. The Might of the Imperium
9. The Imperium aligns with Akaiba
10. Betrayed: Part I
11. Betrayed: Part II
2. The Shogun consults his council
3. The Building Blocks of Empire
4. Okin Submits and Noiba returns to the fold
5. Daichi Intro
6. Daichi Questions an Elf
7. Kanna Leaves for Formaroth and Daichi arrives at Tanaka Castle
8. The Might of the Imperium
9. The Imperium aligns with Akaiba
10. Betrayed: Part I
11. Betrayed: Part II
